"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (Proverbs 9:10). The concept of fearing the Lord can be confusing when reading scripture, perhaps because we often interpret the word "fear" in a purely physical or corporal sense. Are we so afraid of God that we are literally quaking in our boots? Do we reject Him because of this fear? Or could it be that we need to develop a deeper understanding of what it means to fear the Lord? This fear is not about terror or dread but rather a profound respect, reverence, and awe for God's majesty and holiness. By embracing this deeper meaning, we can grow closer to God and to true knowledge and understanding, allowing us to gain wisdom and insight.
CONTEXT MATTERS
The meaning of words in sentences is greatly influenced by context. For example, Psalm 23:5 states, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over." Here, the word "runs" refers to abundance and overflowing blessings. In contrast, if we say, "The child runs into the arms of her mother," the meaning of "runs" shifts entirely, signifying quick movement. Similarly, in Hebrew, the word "Yirah" can mean being afraid or frightened, but it can also denote awe or reverence, depending on the context in which it is used.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES
Leviticus 19:3 says, "Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father..." When we assert our authority over our lives and fail to recognize the authority our parents have over us, we do not honor them; we do not "fear" them by holding them in our hearts with reverence.
Consider the story of Abraham and Isaac. In the book of Genesis, God commanded Abraham to take his beloved son, Isaac, to the land of Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice. Without hesitation, Abraham gathered his belongings and set out with Isaac on the journey to the mountain. Just as Abraham was about to slay his son, an angel stopped him, saying, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God..." (Genesis 22:12). While there may have been an element of fear in Abraham’s decision, it was ultimately his deep reverence and awe for God that led him to obey the command to offer his only son to the Lord.
The story of Jonah is a compelling example of both types of fear. When the Lord commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and cry out against its wickedness, what did Jonah do? He ran away! We might think he was fleeing from the Lord out of fear, but it could also be reasoned that he was afraid of the daunting task set before him. A few verses later, Jonah declares to the sailors, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” (Jonah 1:9). From this, perhaps we can conclude that Jonah had a deep reverence for God as the Creator of heaven and earth.
If any figure in biblical history had reason to fear the Lord, it was Job. Despite having everything taken from him by Satan, Job remained faithful and reverent in his relationship with God. Beginning in Chapter 37 of the Book of Job, God confronts Job with a series of questions that reveal His infinite wisdom, magnify His greatness, and show Job the need for repentance due to his lack of trust in God. Through this experience Job learned the profound truth that was later echoed in Psalm 112:1-2: "Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments!" When our hearts adopt an attitude of humility toward the Lord, we are better able to hold Him in utter reverence and awe. When we develop the spiritual discipline of fearing the Lord in the proper way, we open ourselves to the blessing of true wisdom.
“Behold, fear of the Lord, that is wisdom” (Job 28:28).
In Christ's love,
Tracey
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